The increasing production and use of recycled plastics have raised significant concerns regarding the risks associated with hazardous chemicals. The recycled plastics can accumulate potentially hazardous chemicals, many of which are unknown and unregulated. This study compared the physical and chemical characteristics of recycled plastic products intended for food, oral, or skin contact applications with similar virgin plastic products. The results revealed significant changes in the surface morphology and elevated concentration of organic and inorganic chemicals in the recycled plastics compared to the virgin plastics. Specifically, metal(loids) concentrations were over 10 times higher, PFAS levels were twice as high, and PAH levels were three times higher in the recycled plastics. The calculated Hazard Index (HI) indicates up to a twofold increase in recycled plastics for both adults and children compared to virgin plastics, specifically through microplastic ingestion. The HI values exceed 1 for recycled plastic ingestion, therefore it falls in high-risk category due to the associated chemical exposure from microplastics.
{"title":"Fingerprinting risk from recycled plastic products using physical and chemical properties","authors":"Lakshmi Daggubati, Zahra Sobhani, Maddison Carbery, Kavitha Ramadass, Thava Palanisami","doi":"10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137507","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137507","url":null,"abstract":"The increasing production and use of recycled plastics have raised significant concerns regarding the risks associated with hazardous chemicals. The recycled plastics can accumulate potentially hazardous chemicals, many of which are unknown and unregulated. This study compared the physical and chemical characteristics of recycled plastic products intended for food, oral, or skin contact applications with similar virgin plastic products. The results revealed significant changes in the surface morphology and elevated concentration of organic and inorganic chemicals in the recycled plastics compared to the virgin plastics. Specifically, metal(loids) concentrations were over 10 times higher, PFAS levels were twice as high, and PAH levels were three times higher in the recycled plastics. The calculated Hazard Index (HI) indicates up to a twofold increase in recycled plastics for both adults and children compared to virgin plastics, specifically through microplastic ingestion. The HI values exceed 1 for recycled plastic ingestion, therefore it falls in high-risk category due to the associated chemical exposure from microplastics.","PeriodicalId":361,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hazardous Materials","volume":"63 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143083582","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Humic acid (HA) is an important component of natural organic matter, and understanding the nature and environmental behavior of HA is essential for advancing water treatment technologies and environmental remediation strategies. This study investigated the structural differences of HA at various pH values and whether the structure is reversible (whether the structure is similar when HA at different pH values is adjusted back to neutral compared to the original pH 7) by optical characteristics, hydrodynamic volume, fluorescence, infrared and circular dichroism spectroscopy. After adjustment back to neutral, from prior exposure to different pH values (2-12), the results showed an irreversible behavior of HA. For acidified HA restoring neutrality, the TOC and UV254 values decreased by 12.2% and 11.2%, respectively, and the formation of haloacetic acids (HAAs) and trihalomethanes (THMs) decreased by 24.1% and 31.5%, respectively. These changes were attributed to the protonation of oxygenated groups, the weakening of hydrogen bonding, resulting in the formation of aggregates by HA molecules and hydrophilic and hydrophobic structural changes. For alkalized HA restoring neutrality, the TOC increased by 10.7%, and the formation of HAAs and THMs increased by 16.1% and 26.2%, respectively. These changes were attributed to the increase of electronegativity following deprotonation of HA functional groups, molecular swelling caused by increased molecular repulsion, and twisting of the secondary structure. This study provides new insights regarding the effect of changes in pH conditions on the structure and reactivity of HA, which are important for future approaches to the removal of HA and management of disinfection by-products (DBPs) formation in water treatment.
{"title":"The Irreversible Transformation of the Molecular Structure of Humic Acid during pH Change and Its Effects on the Formation of Disinfection By-Products","authors":"Yun Xiao, Yufei Li, Hankun Yang, Sajid Rashid, Nigel Graham, Wenzheng Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137504","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137504","url":null,"abstract":"Humic acid (HA) is an important component of natural organic matter, and understanding the nature and environmental behavior of HA is essential for advancing water treatment technologies and environmental remediation strategies. This study investigated the structural differences of HA at various pH values and whether the structure is reversible (whether the structure is similar when HA at different pH values is adjusted back to neutral compared to the original pH 7) by optical characteristics, hydrodynamic volume, fluorescence, infrared and circular dichroism spectroscopy. After adjustment back to neutral, from prior exposure to different pH values (2-12), the results showed an irreversible behavior of HA. For acidified HA restoring neutrality, the TOC and UV<sub>254</sub> values decreased by 12.2% and 11.2%, respectively, and the formation of haloacetic acids (HAAs) and trihalomethanes (THMs) decreased by 24.1% and 31.5%, respectively. These changes were attributed to the protonation of oxygenated groups, the weakening of hydrogen bonding, resulting in the formation of aggregates by HA molecules and hydrophilic and hydrophobic structural changes. For alkalized HA restoring neutrality, the TOC increased by 10.7%, and the formation of HAAs and THMs increased by 16.1% and 26.2%, respectively. These changes were attributed to the increase of electronegativity following deprotonation of HA functional groups, molecular swelling caused by increased molecular repulsion, and twisting of the secondary structure. This study provides new insights regarding the effect of changes in pH conditions on the structure and reactivity of HA, which are important for future approaches to the removal of HA and management of disinfection by-products (DBPs) formation in water treatment.","PeriodicalId":361,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hazardous Materials","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143083590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Metal tailings contain a variety of toxic heavy metals and have potential environmental risks owing to long-term open.piling. This study investigated the influence of a plant fiber covering on the distributions of tailings water, heat, and tailing biocementation for improved regulation of tailings pollution by microbial-induced calcium precipitation. Simulation and field tests were conducted to investigate different compositions covering (jute, straw, coconut, palm) and different specifications (300 g·m−2, 500 g·m−2, 700 g·m−2, and 900 g·m−2) of the plant fiber covering. The results show that the plant fiber blanket cover can: (1) reduce the tailing temperature by 0.9∼10.6°C, the daily temperature difference by 0.5∼6.2°C and the daily variation range by 0∼10.5°C, among which the 900 g·m−2 straw fiber blanket (D9) can reduce the temperature by 4.6∼10.6°C, the daily temperature difference by 1.7∼6.2°C and the daily variation range by 2.7∼6.8°C; (2) improve the water retention of tailings and reduce evaporation by 37.0∼71.3%, in which D9 can reduce evaporation by 71.3%; (3) increase thickness 0.15∼2.53 mm, shear strength 0.34∼1.04kg·cm-2 and hardness 3.60∼15.40N, which can effectively inhibit dust deposition, and D9 can increase 2.53 mm, shear strength 1.04 kg·cm-2 and hardness 15.40N of the biological cementing layer. These findings suggest that the plant fiber covering enhanced the inhibition of diffuse tailings pollution by microbial-induced calcium precipitation technology, with D9 showing the optimal effect. This study can provide theoretical support for the application of microbial-induced calcium precipitation technology to regulate diffusion of tailings pollution in dry areas.
{"title":"The Influence of Hydrothermal Salt and Tailing Biocementation Covered by Fiber Covering in an Arid Region","authors":"Xin Wang, Zhengzhong Jin, Xiangxiang Yu, Haifeng Wang, Jia Duo, Liang Pei, Jiangfei Shi, Xinwen Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.144904","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.144904","url":null,"abstract":"Metal tailings contain a variety of toxic heavy metals and have potential environmental risks owing to long-term open.piling. This study investigated the influence of a plant fiber covering on the distributions of tailings water, heat, and tailing biocementation for improved regulation of tailings pollution by microbial-induced calcium precipitation. Simulation and field tests were conducted to investigate different compositions covering (jute, straw, coconut, palm) and different specifications (300 g·m<sup>−2</sup>, 500 g·m<sup>−2</sup>, 700 g·m<sup>−2</sup>, and 900 g·m<sup>−2</sup>) of the plant fiber covering. The results show that the plant fiber blanket cover can: (1) reduce the tailing temperature by 0.9∼10.6°C, the daily temperature difference by 0.5∼6.2°C and the daily variation range by 0∼10.5°C, among which the 900 g·m<sup>−2</sup> straw fiber blanket (D9) can reduce the temperature by 4.6∼10.6°C, the daily temperature difference by 1.7∼6.2°C and the daily variation range by 2.7∼6.8°C; (2) improve the water retention of tailings and reduce evaporation by 37.0∼71.3%, in which D9 can reduce evaporation by 71.3%; (3) increase thickness 0.15∼2.53 mm, shear strength 0.34∼1.04kg·cm<sup>-2</sup> and hardness 3.60∼15.40N, which can effectively inhibit dust deposition, and D9 can increase 2.53 mm, shear strength 1.04 kg·cm<sup>-2</sup> and hardness 15.40N of the biological cementing layer. These findings suggest that the plant fiber covering enhanced the inhibition of diffuse tailings pollution by microbial-induced calcium precipitation technology, with D9 showing the optimal effect. This study can provide theoretical support for the application of microbial-induced calcium precipitation technology to regulate diffusion of tailings pollution in dry areas.","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143083850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aluminum (Al) is a metal existing in the human body, yet the immunotoxicity of Al remains elusive. To investigate the immunotoxicity of Al, C57BL/6 mice were treated with 200 or 800 ppm Al via drinking water for 3 months, and thereafter the adaptive immune system was evaluated. In addition, mouse splenocytes and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were treated with Al in vitro to assess the impact of Al in vitro. Treatment with Al reduced the production of IgM and IgG in the serum, and the activation of B cells, CD4 T cells and CD8 T cells in the spleen of mice; treatment with Al in vitro suppressed the production of IgM and IgG, and the activation of B cells, CD4 T cells and CD8 T cells in mouse splenocytes and human PBMC. In vitro co-culture assays suggested that the suppressed adaptive immunity was due to B cells modified by Al. In terms of mechanism, a direct action of Al on B1 cells induced the B1 cells to be IL-10-producing cells and thereby suppressed the adaptive immune system, which was critically dependent on the Jak1/3-STAT signaling. This study reveals that Al suppresses the adaptive immunity via induction of IL-10-producing B1 cells.
{"title":"Aluminum promotes B1 cells to produce IL-10 and impairs adaptive immune system","authors":"Ting Liu, Wei Wang, Jun Du, Hongyue Liu, Jiaojiao Wu, Chuanxuan Wang, MengKe Tang, Yalin Liu, Yingzi Ju, Weidong Qu, Jianheng Zheng, Yifan Zhao, Yubin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125791","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125791","url":null,"abstract":"Aluminum (Al) is a metal existing in the human body, yet the immunotoxicity of Al remains elusive. To investigate the immunotoxicity of Al, C57BL/6 mice were treated with 200 or 800 ppm Al via drinking water for 3 months, and thereafter the adaptive immune system was evaluated. In addition, mouse splenocytes and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were treated with Al in vitro to assess the impact of Al in vitro. Treatment with Al reduced the production of IgM and IgG in the serum, and the activation of B cells, CD4 T cells and CD8 T cells in the spleen of mice; treatment with Al in vitro suppressed the production of IgM and IgG, and the activation of B cells, CD4 T cells and CD8 T cells in mouse splenocytes and human PBMC. In vitro co-culture assays suggested that the suppressed adaptive immunity was due to B cells modified by Al. In terms of mechanism, a direct action of Al on B1 cells induced the B1 cells to be IL-10-producing cells and thereby suppressed the adaptive immune system, which was critically dependent on the Jak1/3-STAT signaling. This study reveals that Al suppresses the adaptive immunity via induction of IL-10-producing B1 cells.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143083500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Clément Vallé, Isabelle Le Viol, Jean Nabias, Karine Princé, Frédéric Gosselin
<h2>1 INTRODUCTION</h2> <p>In forest ecosystems, the understorey layer represents a huge proportion of plant biodiversity, up to 90% (Gilliam & Roberts, <span>2014</span>; Thrippleton et al., <span>2016</span>), and provides a variety of ecosystem services, such as nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration and energy flow (Landuyt et al., <span>2019</span>; Mölder et al., <span>2008</span>; Muller, <span>2014</span>; Wang et al., <span>2021</span>). It shapes the distribution of other species by providing habitat not only for groups of species, such as mammals and insects (Fayt et al., <span>2006</span>; Marshall & Hawthorne, <span>2012</span>), but also for trees by regulating their regeneration through the resource competition with germinating seedlings (Coomes & Grubb, <span>2000</span>; Gilliam, <span>2007</span>) or facilitation processes (e.g. microclimate buffering or exchange through mycorrhizal networks; Callaway & Walker, <span>1997</span>; Zilliox & Gosselin, <span>2014</span>). Grasping the drivers of herb-layer distribution is thus crucial to guide sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation programmes (Köhl et al., <span>2020</span>).</p> <p>The herb-layer community responds to various factors ranging from land-use history to abiotic and biotic factors across different scales (Barbier et al., <span>2008</span>; Ellenberg & Leuschner, <span>2010</span>; Gilliam, <span>2007</span>; Hermy & Verheyen, <span>2007</span>). Climate influences its broad distribution and temporal change. At local scale, the availability of suitable micro-environment in the forest floor is a strong driver (Kelemen et al., <span>2014</span>), including soil composition and condition, water and light availability or microclimate temperature (Depauw, <span>2020</span>; Wei et al., <span>2020</span>). Yet, these factors partly depend on forest structure and tree composition (Augusto et al., <span>2003</span>). For instance, tree canopies intercept up to 99% of incoming light (Coomes & Grubb, <span>2000</span>), compete strongly for below-ground resources (Coomes & Grubb, <span>2000</span>; Germany et al., <span>2017</span>) and modulate the microclimate (Gottschall et al., <span>2019</span>; Lembrechts et al., <span>2019</span>). Trees also can be associated with particular herbaceous species due to differences in their nutrient cycling, rainfall partitioning, shade-casting ability and quality of the light transmitted by their foliage (Barbier, Balandier, & Gosselin, <span>2009</span>; Rawlik et al., <span>2018</span>). Tree species identity can also lead to litter composition (e.g. allelopathic compounds) and accumulation, affecting germination and performance of herb-layer species (Bertin et al., <span>2003</span>; Rodríguez-Calcerrada et al., <span>2011</span>). Thus, various overstorey composition characteristics are well-known to impact understorey herb communities, but questions remain as to what extent t
{"title":"Tree species identity shapes the relationship between canopy cover and herb-layer species in temperate forests","authors":"Clément Vallé, Isabelle Le Viol, Jean Nabias, Karine Princé, Frédéric Gosselin","doi":"10.1111/1365-2745.14479","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.14479","url":null,"abstract":"<h2>1 INTRODUCTION</h2>\u0000<p>In forest ecosystems, the understorey layer represents a huge proportion of plant biodiversity, up to 90% (Gilliam & Roberts, <span>2014</span>; Thrippleton et al., <span>2016</span>), and provides a variety of ecosystem services, such as nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration and energy flow (Landuyt et al., <span>2019</span>; Mölder et al., <span>2008</span>; Muller, <span>2014</span>; Wang et al., <span>2021</span>). It shapes the distribution of other species by providing habitat not only for groups of species, such as mammals and insects (Fayt et al., <span>2006</span>; Marshall & Hawthorne, <span>2012</span>), but also for trees by regulating their regeneration through the resource competition with germinating seedlings (Coomes & Grubb, <span>2000</span>; Gilliam, <span>2007</span>) or facilitation processes (e.g. microclimate buffering or exchange through mycorrhizal networks; Callaway & Walker, <span>1997</span>; Zilliox & Gosselin, <span>2014</span>). Grasping the drivers of herb-layer distribution is thus crucial to guide sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation programmes (Köhl et al., <span>2020</span>).</p>\u0000<p>The herb-layer community responds to various factors ranging from land-use history to abiotic and biotic factors across different scales (Barbier et al., <span>2008</span>; Ellenberg & Leuschner, <span>2010</span>; Gilliam, <span>2007</span>; Hermy & Verheyen, <span>2007</span>). Climate influences its broad distribution and temporal change. At local scale, the availability of suitable micro-environment in the forest floor is a strong driver (Kelemen et al., <span>2014</span>), including soil composition and condition, water and light availability or microclimate temperature (Depauw, <span>2020</span>; Wei et al., <span>2020</span>). Yet, these factors partly depend on forest structure and tree composition (Augusto et al., <span>2003</span>). For instance, tree canopies intercept up to 99% of incoming light (Coomes & Grubb, <span>2000</span>), compete strongly for below-ground resources (Coomes & Grubb, <span>2000</span>; Germany et al., <span>2017</span>) and modulate the microclimate (Gottschall et al., <span>2019</span>; Lembrechts et al., <span>2019</span>). Trees also can be associated with particular herbaceous species due to differences in their nutrient cycling, rainfall partitioning, shade-casting ability and quality of the light transmitted by their foliage (Barbier, Balandier, & Gosselin, <span>2009</span>; Rawlik et al., <span>2018</span>). Tree species identity can also lead to litter composition (e.g. allelopathic compounds) and accumulation, affecting germination and performance of herb-layer species (Bertin et al., <span>2003</span>; Rodríguez-Calcerrada et al., <span>2011</span>). Thus, various overstorey composition characteristics are well-known to impact understorey herb communities, but questions remain as to what extent t","PeriodicalId":191,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ecology","volume":"64 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143083541","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jana Martínková, Adam Klimešová, Iveta Marešová, Jitka Klimešová
<h2>1 INTRODUCTION</h2> <p>While the growth and survival of adult individuals are the most influential parameters of the population dynamics of perennial plants (Silvertown et al., <span>1996</span>; Salguero-Gomez et al., <span>2016</span>), the establishment of individuals is a prerequisite. The establishment of juvenile plants is not only crucial for the population's long-term existence (Noble & Slatyer, <span>1997</span>) but also determines the species' ability to colonize new habitats (Harper, <span>1977</span>). Although juvenile plant strategies are highly important, their progression into adult strategies remains poorly understood and is rarely studied. (Barton, <span>2024</span>; Silvertown et al., <span>1992</span>). Moreover, predictions of vegetation changes in the future rely mostly on the traits of adult individuals (Pérez-Harguindeguy et al., <span>2013</span>) and overlook the fact that the establishment strategy of a juvenile plant may differ from the life strategy of an adult individual (Grime, <span>2007</span>; Grubb, <span>1977</span>; Larson & Funk, <span>2016</span>; Poorter, <span>2007</span>). This limitation of the trait-based approach has recently been recognized, yielding studies on juvenile plant traits focused mainly on acquisitive organs—leaves and fine roots—while perennating organs and their ontogenetical development are left unexplored.</p> <p>Recent studies have shown that juvenile plants have more acquisitive leaf and root traits than adults (Barton, <span>2024</span>; Cope et al., <span>2022</span>; Garbowski et al., <span>2021</span>; Havrilla et al., <span>2021</span>; Westerband et al., <span>2021</span>; Westoby et al., <span>2022</span>). The investment into acquisition at the beginning of life is not surprising because plants need to occupy space quickly and attain a size that enables successful competition with surrounding vegetation (Damián et al., <span>2017</span>; Dayrell et al., <span>2018</span>; Westoby et al., <span>2022</span>). However, in seasonal climates, the successful establishment of perennial herbs does not depend only on the frequently analysed acquisitive traits of leaves or fine roots but also on the development of coarse belowground organs containing storage carbohydrates and the bud bank—also called storage organs or organs of clonal growth (Ott et al., <span>2019</span>). Coarse belowground organs with buds are indispensable for regrowth after unfavourable (dry or cold) seasons, yet their traits, that is, multiplication rate, lateral spread, persistence of clonal connection and bud bank size, are independent of leaf and fine root acquisitive traits (Chelli et al., <span>2024</span>). Unfortunately, the ontogenetic development of coarse belowground organs is largely unknown even though it may be decisive for successful establishment.</p> <p>Belowground coarse organs, that is, storage and clonal growth organs such as rhizomes, bulbs, tubers and storage roots, are integral p
{"title":"The hidden half of ontogeny and seasonal dynamics in perennial herbs","authors":"Jana Martínková, Adam Klimešová, Iveta Marešová, Jitka Klimešová","doi":"10.1111/1365-2745.14494","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.14494","url":null,"abstract":"<h2>1 INTRODUCTION</h2>\u0000<p>While the growth and survival of adult individuals are the most influential parameters of the population dynamics of perennial plants (Silvertown et al., <span>1996</span>; Salguero-Gomez et al., <span>2016</span>), the establishment of individuals is a prerequisite. The establishment of juvenile plants is not only crucial for the population's long-term existence (Noble & Slatyer, <span>1997</span>) but also determines the species' ability to colonize new habitats (Harper, <span>1977</span>). Although juvenile plant strategies are highly important, their progression into adult strategies remains poorly understood and is rarely studied. (Barton, <span>2024</span>; Silvertown et al., <span>1992</span>). Moreover, predictions of vegetation changes in the future rely mostly on the traits of adult individuals (Pérez-Harguindeguy et al., <span>2013</span>) and overlook the fact that the establishment strategy of a juvenile plant may differ from the life strategy of an adult individual (Grime, <span>2007</span>; Grubb, <span>1977</span>; Larson & Funk, <span>2016</span>; Poorter, <span>2007</span>). This limitation of the trait-based approach has recently been recognized, yielding studies on juvenile plant traits focused mainly on acquisitive organs—leaves and fine roots—while perennating organs and their ontogenetical development are left unexplored.</p>\u0000<p>Recent studies have shown that juvenile plants have more acquisitive leaf and root traits than adults (Barton, <span>2024</span>; Cope et al., <span>2022</span>; Garbowski et al., <span>2021</span>; Havrilla et al., <span>2021</span>; Westerband et al., <span>2021</span>; Westoby et al., <span>2022</span>). The investment into acquisition at the beginning of life is not surprising because plants need to occupy space quickly and attain a size that enables successful competition with surrounding vegetation (Damián et al., <span>2017</span>; Dayrell et al., <span>2018</span>; Westoby et al., <span>2022</span>). However, in seasonal climates, the successful establishment of perennial herbs does not depend only on the frequently analysed acquisitive traits of leaves or fine roots but also on the development of coarse belowground organs containing storage carbohydrates and the bud bank—also called storage organs or organs of clonal growth (Ott et al., <span>2019</span>). Coarse belowground organs with buds are indispensable for regrowth after unfavourable (dry or cold) seasons, yet their traits, that is, multiplication rate, lateral spread, persistence of clonal connection and bud bank size, are independent of leaf and fine root acquisitive traits (Chelli et al., <span>2024</span>). Unfortunately, the ontogenetic development of coarse belowground organs is largely unknown even though it may be decisive for successful establishment.</p>\u0000<p>Belowground coarse organs, that is, storage and clonal growth organs such as rhizomes, bulbs, tubers and storage roots, are integral p","PeriodicalId":191,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ecology","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143083571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-04DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.144952
Arjun T. Ramshankar, Kelly D. Farmer, Akanksha K. Menon, Joe F. Bozeman
Decarbonizing the construction sector is vital to meet the U.S. national greenhouse gas emission targets. To this effect, the development and deployment of bio-based alternatives to existing construction materials is becoming an increasingly used strategy to reduce the embodied carbon of the built environment. Hemp-based insulation is one such alternative. While several studies have aimed to quantify the environmental benefits of deploying hemp insulation, the economic modeling is currently limited to purchase price data. In this study, a Monte Carlo-based techno-economic model is proposed to fill this gap. The developed model incorporates the uncertainty surrounding a supply chain in its infancy to determine the economic viability of the hemp insulation across a range of input parameters. The results obtained show that the retrofit of existing bioproducts/manufacturing plants to produce hemp insulation increases the rate of payback and breakeven. The model further analyzes the economic viability of hemp insulation across different production rates and selling prices, which in turn reflects the economic performance across different rates of demand and market penetration of the insulation. Further sensitivity analysis shows that the price of the procured hemp fibers, the selling price of the finished product, and the demand for the finished product are key factors that determine the magnitude of economic success. Lastly, this study shows the need for further development of the hemp supply chain and the hemp market, with opportunities for manufacturers to strongly consider mass production of hemp insulation.
{"title":"Scalability of Hemp-based Thermal Insulation in the United States – A Monte Carlo-based Techno-economic Approach","authors":"Arjun T. Ramshankar, Kelly D. Farmer, Akanksha K. Menon, Joe F. Bozeman","doi":"10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.144952","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.144952","url":null,"abstract":"Decarbonizing the construction sector is vital to meet the U.S. national greenhouse gas emission targets. To this effect, the development and deployment of bio-based alternatives to existing construction materials is becoming an increasingly used strategy to reduce the embodied carbon of the built environment. Hemp-based insulation is one such alternative. While several studies have aimed to quantify the environmental benefits of deploying hemp insulation, the economic modeling is currently limited to purchase price data. In this study, a Monte Carlo-based techno-economic model is proposed to fill this gap. The developed model incorporates the uncertainty surrounding a supply chain in its infancy to determine the economic viability of the hemp insulation across a range of input parameters. The results obtained show that the retrofit of existing bioproducts/manufacturing plants to produce hemp insulation increases the rate of payback and breakeven. The model further analyzes the economic viability of hemp insulation across different production rates and selling prices, which in turn reflects the economic performance across different rates of demand and market penetration of the insulation. Further sensitivity analysis shows that the price of the procured hemp fibers, the selling price of the finished product, and the demand for the finished product are key factors that determine the magnitude of economic success. Lastly, this study shows the need for further development of the hemp supply chain and the hemp market, with opportunities for manufacturers to strongly consider mass production of hemp insulation.","PeriodicalId":349,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cleaner Production","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":11.1,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143083849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-04DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125807
Joana Alves, Ana Daniela Pavón, Daniel Ricardo, António Alves da Silva, Tiago Natal-da-Luz, Rúben Mina, Fernanda Garcia, Paulo Barros, João Alexandre Cabral, José Paulo Sousa
Bat populations are decreasing worldwide, mainly due to anthropogenic influence, climate changes, urbanisation, agricultural intensification, and industrial exploitation of natural resources. Colonies have been displaced from caves and other natural roosts, leaving mines (including metal extraction mines) as key remaining roosts for cave-dwelling bats in many regions. Consequently, mines have become important for global conservation efforts. The persistence of metals in these environments might affect biota even after exploitation activities have ceased. This study investigates potential metal exposure in cave-dwelling bats roosting in abandoned mines. Non-invasive samples of fur, wing, and faeces from 140 individuals of four insectivorous cave-dwelling bat species (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus euryale, Rhinolophus hipposideros, and Miniopterus schreibersii) were collected in four abandoned mines in northern and central Portugal, frequently used as hibernation roosting sites. Soil, rock, and water samples were also collected in each mine to characterise the exposure source. Concentrations of 13 metals (As, Ag, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn, Sn, and W) were measured by ICP-MS spectrophotometer. Metals were detected in the wings and fur of all bat species, confirming metal exposure. The highest concentrations were mainly found in the wing membranes. M. schreibersii presented the highest metal concentrations in fur. Differences in metal concentrations between species might be related to foraging behaviour and habitat use, linked to distinct anthropogenic activities. These results reinforce the importance of monitoring metal exposure in cave-dwelling bats roosting in abandoned mines, as this exposure may help to understand the decreases in bat populations and to support measures to prevent their decline.
{"title":"Exposure Assessment of Metals in Cave-Dwelling Bats: Worldwide Relevance of Local Knowledge","authors":"Joana Alves, Ana Daniela Pavón, Daniel Ricardo, António Alves da Silva, Tiago Natal-da-Luz, Rúben Mina, Fernanda Garcia, Paulo Barros, João Alexandre Cabral, José Paulo Sousa","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125807","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125807","url":null,"abstract":"Bat populations are decreasing worldwide, mainly due to anthropogenic influence, climate changes, urbanisation, agricultural intensification, and industrial exploitation of natural resources. Colonies have been displaced from caves and other natural roosts, leaving mines (including metal extraction mines) as key remaining roosts for cave-dwelling bats in many regions. Consequently, mines have become important for global conservation efforts. The persistence of metals in these environments might affect biota even after exploitation activities have ceased. This study investigates potential metal exposure in cave-dwelling bats roosting in abandoned mines. Non-invasive samples of fur, wing, and faeces from 140 individuals of four insectivorous cave-dwelling bat species (<em>Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus euryale, Rhinolophus hipposideros, and Miniopterus schreibersii</em>) were collected in four abandoned mines in northern and central Portugal, frequently used as hibernation roosting sites. Soil, rock, and water samples were also collected in each mine to characterise the exposure source. Concentrations of 13 metals (As, Ag, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn, Sn, and W) were measured by ICP-MS spectrophotometer. Metals were detected in the wings and fur of all bat species, confirming metal exposure. The highest concentrations were mainly found in the wing membranes. <em>M. schreibersii</em> presented the highest metal concentrations in fur. Differences in metal concentrations between species might be related to foraging behaviour and habitat use, linked to distinct anthropogenic activities. These results reinforce the importance of monitoring metal exposure in cave-dwelling bats roosting in abandoned mines, as this exposure may help to understand the decreases in bat populations and to support measures to prevent their decline.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143083472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-04DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125794
Xuan Ni, Chicheng Yan, Bingbing Guo, Ziwei Han, Changzheng Cui
Viable but non-culturable (VBNC) pathogens are prevalent in drinking water systems and can resuscitate under favorable conditions, thereby posing significant public health risks. This study investigated the occurrence of VBNC Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in source water, tap water, and potable water in eastern China, using propidium monoazide-quantitative PCR and culture-based methods. Multiple linear regression (MLR) and artificial neural network (ANN) models were developed based on conventional water quality indicators to predict VBNC pathogen concentrations. The results indicated that drinking water treatment plants effectively reduced VBNC pathogens by 1–3 log units, however, concentrations ranging from 100 to 102 CFU/100 mL remained in tap and potable water, with detection rates between 83.33% and 100%. Furthermore, potable water contained a higher concentration of VBNC pathogens than tap water, suggesting a potential risk of microbial leakage from water dispensers. The constructed ANN models outperformed than MLR models, with R values greater than 0.8, indicating a strong correlation between measured values and model predictions for VBNC pathogens. ANN models also demonstrated superior accuracy than MLR models in predicting VBNC pathogens across different type of drinking water, achieving accuracies of 88.89% for Escherichia coli and 77.78% for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The QMRA revealed that annual infection risks and disease burdens from VBNC pathogens in potable water were greater than those in tap water, with both exceeding acceptable safety thresholds. This study emphasizes that the risks posed by VBNC pathogens deserve attention and model predictions provide critical evidence for health risk identification.
{"title":"Occurrence, predictive models and potential health risk assessment of viable but non-culturable (VBNC) pathogens in drinking water","authors":"Xuan Ni, Chicheng Yan, Bingbing Guo, Ziwei Han, Changzheng Cui","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125794","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125794","url":null,"abstract":"Viable but non-culturable (VBNC) pathogens are prevalent in drinking water systems and can resuscitate under favorable conditions, thereby posing significant public health risks. This study investigated the occurrence of VBNC <em>Escherichia coli</em> and <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> in source water, tap water, and potable water in eastern China, using propidium monoazide-quantitative PCR and culture-based methods. Multiple linear regression (MLR) and artificial neural network (ANN) models were developed based on conventional water quality indicators to predict VBNC pathogen concentrations. The results indicated that drinking water treatment plants effectively reduced VBNC pathogens by 1–3 log units, however, concentrations ranging from 10<sup>0</sup> to 10<sup>2</sup> CFU/100 mL remained in tap and potable water, with detection rates between 83.33% and 100%. Furthermore, potable water contained a higher concentration of VBNC pathogens than tap water, suggesting a potential risk of microbial leakage from water dispensers. The constructed ANN models outperformed than MLR models, with R values greater than 0.8, indicating a strong correlation between measured values and model predictions for VBNC pathogens. ANN models also demonstrated superior accuracy than MLR models in predicting VBNC pathogens across different type of drinking water, achieving accuracies of 88.89% for <em>Escherichia coli</em> and 77.78% for <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em>. The QMRA revealed that annual infection risks and disease burdens from VBNC pathogens in potable water were greater than those in tap water, with both exceeding acceptable safety thresholds. This study emphasizes that the risks posed by VBNC pathogens deserve attention and model predictions provide critical evidence for health risk identification.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"61 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143083465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-04DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125809
Junwen Tang, Yuan Zhao, Li Wang, Zhiyuan Tang, Xiaoxuan Mao, Yuxuan Guo, Baicheng Hu, Guolong Li, Hong Gao, Tao Huang, Jianmin Ma
After the ban on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), the replacement of these compounds with organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) has drawn widespread attention worldwide. In arid/semi-arid regions, characteristics such as low precipitation, frequent strong winds, and low soil organic carbon content potentially influence the environmental fate of OPFRs. In this study, we investigated the concentrations of nine OPFRs in water, sediment, soil, air, and dry deposition in Lanzhou, an arid/semi-arid region in China. The total concentration of OPFRs (Σ9OPFRs) were 54.8 – 334 ng/L in water, 37.3 – 484 ng/g (dry weight, dw) in sediment, 134 – 510 ng/g (dw) in urban soil, 1.53 – 6.22 ng/m3 in urban air, and measured dry deposition fluxes were 119 – 681 ng/(m2·d). TPrP, TDCPP and TCPP were the primary OPFR individuals in water and sediment, while TPrP, TDCPP and TPPO predominated in urban soil and air. The fugacity approach revealed the environmental fate of OPFRs were mainly: soil-to-air, air-to-water and sediment-to-water. Ulteriorly, intermediate exchange fluxes were calculated. This study reveals that in this climatic region, urban soil acts both as a "sink" for emissions and a "source" for re-emissions into the atmosphere, further emphasizing the significance of atmospheric transport as a critical pathway in this area.
{"title":"Multimedia Distribution and Exchange Characteristics of Organophosphorus Flame Retardants in a Typical Semi-Arid City in China","authors":"Junwen Tang, Yuan Zhao, Li Wang, Zhiyuan Tang, Xiaoxuan Mao, Yuxuan Guo, Baicheng Hu, Guolong Li, Hong Gao, Tao Huang, Jianmin Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125809","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125809","url":null,"abstract":"After the ban on polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), the replacement of these compounds with organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) has drawn widespread attention worldwide. In arid/semi-arid regions, characteristics such as low precipitation, frequent strong winds, and low soil organic carbon content potentially influence the environmental fate of OPFRs. In this study, we investigated the concentrations of nine OPFRs in water, sediment, soil, air, and dry deposition in Lanzhou, an arid/semi-arid region in China. The total concentration of OPFRs (Σ<sub>9</sub>OPFRs) were 54.8 – 334 ng/L in water, 37.3 – 484 ng/g (dry weight, dw) in sediment, 134 – 510 ng/g (dw) in urban soil, 1.53 – 6.22 ng/m<sup>3</sup> in urban air, and measured dry deposition fluxes were 119 – 681 ng/(m<sup>2</sup>·d). TPrP, TDCPP and TCPP were the primary OPFR individuals in water and sediment, while TPrP, TDCPP and TPPO predominated in urban soil and air. The fugacity approach revealed the environmental fate of OPFRs were mainly: soil-to-air, air-to-water and sediment-to-water. Ulteriorly, intermediate exchange fluxes were calculated. This study reveals that in this climatic region, urban soil acts both as a \"sink\" for emissions and a \"source\" for re-emissions into the atmosphere, further emphasizing the significance of atmospheric transport as a critical pathway in this area.","PeriodicalId":311,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Pollution","volume":"39 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143083498","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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